Bob Balaban

Biography

Bob Balaban is an American actor and filmmaker. Born in Chicago, he began his career on stage, originating Linus in the 1967 off-Broadway staging of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. His early films included Midnight Cowboy (1969), Catch-22, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). He earned a Tony Award nomination for The Inspector General in 1979. Balaban became a regular in Christopher Guest comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996) and Best in Show (2000), and in Wes Anderson films such as Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and The French Dispatch (2021). He co-produced Gosford Park (2001), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, and also acted in it. His other screen credits include Altered States (1980), Capote (2005), and Ghost World (2001). He has directed films and television, including Bernard and Doris and episodes of Nurse Jackie, and wrote children's novels about a bionic dog named McGrowl.

81years old

Turns 82 on August 16in 316 days

Born August 16, 1945Chicago
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Robert Elmer Balaban

Movie Career

Films: 57
Career span: 57 years1969 to 2026

Genres

Comedy63%, 36 films
Drama60%, 34 films
Romance23%, 13 films
Crime14%, 8 films
Sci-Fi9%, 5 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
In 1967, Balaban took on the part of Linus in the original off-Broadway staging of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, which was his first notable role on stage.
Behind the camera
Bob Balaban is the author of six children's novels. The books in this series center on McGrowl, a dog that is bionic.

Bob Balaban movies on Netflix

Fantasy Life2026IMDb rating 5.9as Lenny
80 for Brady2023IMDb rating 5.9as Mark
The French Dispatch2021IMDb rating 7.1as Uncle Nick
An L.A. Minute2018IMDb rating 3.9as Shelly
Isle of Dogs2018IMDb rating 7.8as King (voice)
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House2016IMDb rating 4.6as Mr. Waxcap
Mascots2016IMDb rating 5.8as Sol Lumpkin
Everything Is Copy2015IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Hitchcock/Truffaut2015IMDb rating 7.3as Narrator
The Monuments Men2014IMDb rating 6.1as Preston Savitz
Fading Gigolo2013IMDb rating 6.2as Sol
Girl Most Likely2012IMDb rating 5.7as Maxwell P. Duncan
Moonrise Kingdom2012IMDb rating 7.7as The Narrator
A Monster in Paris2011IMDb rating 6.7as Pâté (voice)
Thin Ice2011IMDb rating 6.2as Leonard Dahl
Howl2010IMDb rating 6.6as Judge Clayton Horn
Recount2008IMDb rating 7.3as Ben Ginsberg
Dedication2007IMDb rating 6.6as Arthur Planck
License to Wed2007IMDb rating 5.3as Jewelry Store Clerk
No Reservations2007IMDb rating 6.4as Therapist
For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3as Philip Koontz
Lady in the Water2006IMDb rating 5.5as Harry Farber
Capote2005IMDb rating 7.3as William Shawn
Marie and Bruce2004IMDb rating 4.5as Roger
A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2as Jonathan Steinbloom
Ghost World2001IMDb rating 7.3as Enid's Dad
Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2as Morris Weissman
The Majestic2001IMDb rating 6.9as Elvin Clyde
The Mexican2001IMDb rating 6.2as Bernie Nayman
Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Cradle Will Rock1999IMDb rating 6.7as Harry Hopkins
Jakob the Liar1999IMDb rating 6.5as Kowalsky
Three to Tango1999IMDb rating 6.1as Decker
Clockwatchers1997IMDb rating 6.6as Milton Lasky
The Late Shift1996IMDb rating 6.7as Warren Littlefield
Waiting for Guffman1996IMDb rating 7.4as Lloyd Miller
Pie in the Sky1995IMDb rating 5.8as Paul Entamen
Greedy1994IMDb rating 6.3as Ed
Amos & Andrew1993IMDb rating 5.7as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
For Love or Money1993IMDb rating 6.2as Ed Drinkwater
Little Man Tate1991IMDb rating 6.6as Quizmaster
The Face of Fear1990IMDb rating 5.4as Ira Preduski
Dead Bang1989IMDb rating 6.1as Elliot Webly
2010: The Year We Make Contact1984IMDb rating 6.7as Dr. R. Chandra
Absence of Malice1981IMDb rating 6.9as Rosen
Prince of the City1981IMDb rating 7.4as Santimassino
Whose Life Is It Anyway?1981IMDb rating 7.3as Carter Hill
Altered States1980IMDb rating 6.9as Arthur Rosenberg
Girlfriends1978IMDb rating 7.2as Martin
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977IMDb rating 7.6as David Laughlin
Report to the Commissioner1975IMDb rating 6.7as Joey Egan
The Bank Shot1974IMDb rating 5.4as Victor Karp
Making It1971IMDb rating 5.8as Wilkie
Catch-221970IMDb rating 7.1as Orr
The Strawberry Statement1970IMDb rating 6.6as Elliot
Me, Natalie1969IMDb rating 6.5as Morris
Midnight Cowboy1969IMDb rating 7.8as The Young Student

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Isle of Dogs2018 Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fias Kingvoice
IMDb rating 7.8215K votes
Best in Show2000 Comedyas Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
IMDb rating 7.577K votes
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977as David Laughlin
IMDb rating 7.6239K votes
Capote2005as William Shawn
IMDb rating 7.3151K votes
Lady in the Water2006as Harry Farber
IMDb rating 5.5109K votes
The Mexican2001as Bernie Nayman
IMDb rating 6.2122K votes
Moonrise Kingdom2012as The Narrator
IMDb rating 7.7385K votes
A Mighty Wind2003as Jonathan Steinbloom
IMDb rating 7.232K votes

Most often with

Christopher Guest directed five of these films, Wes Anderson three and Jill Sprecher two. Parker Posey appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Parker Posey

Bill Murray

Ed Begley Jr.

John Michael Higgins

Christopher Guest

Eugene Levy

Christopher GuestDirector, 5 films

Wes AndersonDirector, 3 films Jill SprecherDirector, 2 films

Films together

Parker Posey6 films together, 1996 to 2016
Parker Posey's page
- Mascots2016IMDb rating 5.8Balaban as Sol LumpkinPosey as Cindi Babineaux
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip KoontzPosey as Callie Webb
- A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as Jonathan SteinbloomPosey as Sissy Knox
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, IIIPosey as Meg Swan
- Clockwatchers1997IMDb rating 6.6Balaban as Milton LaskyPosey as Margaret J. Burrell
- Waiting for Guffman1996IMDb rating 7.4Balaban as Lloyd MillerPosey as Libby Mae Brown
Bill Murray5 films together, 1999 to 2021
Bill Murray's page
- The French Dispatch2021IMDb rating 7.1Balaban as Uncle NickMurray as Arthur Howitzer, Jr.
- Isle of Dogs2018IMDb rating 7.8Balaban as KingvoiceMurray as Bossvoice
- The Monuments Men2014IMDb rating 6.1Balaban as Preston SavitzMurray as Richard Campbell
- Moonrise Kingdom2012IMDb rating 7.7Balaban as The NarratorMurray as Mr. Bishop
- Cradle Will Rock1999IMDb rating 6.7Balaban as Harry HopkinsMurray as Tommy Crickshaw
Ed Begley Jr.5 films together, 1994 to 2008
Ed Begley Jr.'s page
- Recount2008IMDb rating 7.3Balaban as Ben GinsbergBegley as David Boies
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip KoontzBegley as Sandy Lane
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, IIIBegley as Hotel Manager
- The Late Shift1996IMDb rating 6.7Balaban as Warren LittlefieldBegley as Rod Perth
- Greedy1994IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as EdBegley as Carl
John Michael Higgins5 films together, 1996 to 2016
John Michael Higgins's page
- Mascots2016IMDb rating 5.8Balaban as Sol LumpkinHiggins as Upton French
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip KoontzHiggins as Corey Taft
- A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as Jonathan SteinbloomHiggins as Terry Bohner
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, IIIHiggins as Scott Donlan
- The Late Shift1996IMDb rating 6.7Balaban as Warren LittlefieldHiggins as David Letterman
Christopher Guest5 films together, 1978 to 2006
Christopher Guest's page
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip KoontzGuest as Jay Berman
- A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as Jonathan SteinbloomGuest as Alan Barrows
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, IIIGuest as Harlan Pepper
- Waiting for Guffman1996IMDb rating 7.4Balaban as Lloyd MillerGuest as Corky St. Clair
- Girlfriends1978IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as MartinGuest as Eric
Eugene Levy4 films together, 1996 to 2006
Eugene Levy's page
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip KoontzLevy as Morley Orfkin
- A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as Jonathan SteinbloomLevy as Mitch Cohen
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, IIILevy as Gerry Fleck
- Waiting for Guffman1996IMDb rating 7.4Balaban as Lloyd MillerLevy as Dr. Allan Pearl
Christopher GuestDirector, 5 films, 1996 to 2016
All films by Christopher Guest
- Mascots2016IMDb rating 5.8Balaban as Sol Lumpkin
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Balaban as Philip Koontz
- A Mighty Wind2003IMDb rating 7.2Balaban as Jonathan Steinbloom
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
- Waiting for Guffman1996IMDb rating 7.4Balaban as Lloyd Miller
Wes AndersonDirector, 3 films, 2012 to 2021
All films by Wes Anderson
- The French Dispatch2021IMDb rating 7.1Balaban as Uncle Nick
- Isle of Dogs2018IMDb rating 7.8Balaban as Kingvoice
- Moonrise Kingdom2012IMDb rating 7.7Balaban as The Narrator
Jill SprecherDirector, 2 films, 1997 to 2011
All films by Jill Sprecher
- Thin Ice2011IMDb rating 6.2Balaban as Leonard Dahl
- Clockwatchers1997IMDb rating 6.6Balaban as Milton Lasky
Also four films together1 more actor
- Catherine O'HaraFor Your Consideration (2006), A Mighty Wind (2003), Best in Show (2000) and Waiting for Guffman (1996)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Bob Balaban's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.5 billion

37 of the 56 films have a worldwide figure.

37Worldwide figure
7US gross only
6Never in cinemas
6Figure not found

Top grosser

Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977David Laughlin$307 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 65% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977as David Laughlin
$307M20.0% of the total
2
The Monuments Men2014as Preston Savitz
$155M10.1% of the total
3
The Mexican2001as Bernie Nayman
$148M9.6% of the total
4
No Reservations2007as Therapist
$93M6.0% of the total
5
Gosford Park2001as Morris Weissman
$88M5.7% of the total
6
Isle of Dogs2018as King (voice)
$73M4.8% of the total
7
Lady in the Water2006as Harry Farber
$73M4.7% of the total
8
License to Wed2007as Jewelry Store Clerk
$69M4.5% of the total